Acreage

Contact

Parish

Caldwell, Catahoula

Owner/manager

LDWF

Description

Boeuf WMA is bordered by the Bouef River for approximately 47 miles on its eastern side. There are eight bayous on the area with a combined length of 30 miles. Boeuf WMA has 26 lakes, totaling about 1,800 acres. The terrain is flat and poorly drained. The majority of the area is subject to frequent flooding from Boeuf River and Bayou LaFourche. All lakes and bayous on Boeuf WMA are subject to annual overflow.

A large portion of Boeuf WMA consists of farmland that has been partially reforested in bottomland hardwoods. The forest overstory is a relatively closed stand of mixed bottomland hardwoods. On the higher elevations, the main tree species are willow, Nuttall, and post oak; cedar elm; sweetgum; green ash; persimmon; and honey locust. The main tree species in the lower elevations are overcup oak, bitter pecan, cypress, and tupelo gum. Understory species include rattan, Rubus sp., Crataegus sp., swamp dogwood, Vitis sp., deciduous holly, Smilax sp., baccharis, poison ivy, and many herbaceous species. LDWF manages approximately 4,000 acres of the bottomland hardwood forest along with an 1,800-acre greentree reservoir in moist soil and shallow water for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds.

LDWF purchased the majority of Boeuf WMA (three tracts totaling 38,444 acres) through the Conservation Fund between 1977 and 1981. Between 1993 and 1998, LDWF purchased the Tensas Delta Tract (approximately 10,000 acres) from the Tensas Delta Land Company through the State Duck Stamp Fund. LDWF purchased the remaining acreage, the Topan Tract, in mid-2000.

Activities and Amenities

Hunting and trapping: The most popular game species on Boeuf WMA are white-tailed deer, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit, and turkey. There are youth-only deer and squirrel seasons and a small game emphasis area. The areas managed for waterfowl along with the numerous sloughs and waterways offer excellent waterfowl hunting. Dove, woodcock, and snipe hunting opportunities are also available. Several dove fields planted annually in brown-top millet are available to area users. See regulations for details.

Fishing and boating: There are boat launches on most area lakes. Common freshwater fish include largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and catfish. Crawfishing and frogging are also available. See regulations for details.

Birding and wildlife viewing: Boeuf WMA is visited by many neotropical bird and shorebird species annually and is home to large numbers of passerine and wading birds. The areas managed for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds along with the numerous sloughs and waterways offer excellent birding opportunities. Bucks Brake, located in the Hebert area, contains a rookery that provides resting and nesting habitat for many species of wading birds, egrets, and wood ducks. Birders also frequently observe bald eagles and their nests.

Hiking: The ¾-mile Bayou Crew Nature Trail is located in the interior of Boeuf WMA. Several walking trails follow pipeline rights-of-way.

Other: horseback riding, berry picking

Directions

Boeuf WMA is located 10 miles southeast of Columbia. Major access routes to the area include LA Hwy 4, 559, 133, and 848. LDWF maintains a system of all-weather gravel roads and numerous ATV trails that provide access to area users. There are seven self-clearing permit stations located at major entrances to the area.